wall pocket

wall pocket

wall pocket

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Introduction

Wall pocket made of white skin hide in a pentagonal shape, embroidered with flowers, leaves and red berries in asymmetrical. Decorated with fur and lined with cotton, with a plaited silk cord, with a loop for hanging up on the wall.

Nation of Maker: Cree Maskêkowiyiniwak (Swampy Cree) Mushkegowuk (Western James Bay Cree) Omushkego (Winisk-Swampy Cree) Métis
Reasons for connecting this relative with particular nation(s)

British Museum Catalog Card.

Place of Origin: Ontario or Manitoba, CAN
Date Made or Date Range: Mid 19 C to Early 20 C
Materials

Made of fur; ermine, hide, silk embroidery thread; red, green, yellow, purple, pink, white, yellow, blue.

Techniques or Format

Flat bag, wall pocket of white skin, the face pentagonal in shape, with a semi-circular flap above the opening. The face is embroidered with two sprays of leaves and red berries, surmounted by three large round, possibly rose-like flowers, with a sprinkling of buds and other flowers round the outside. The back of the pocket is decorated with two sprays of leaves at the bottom, two sprays at the side with flowers, and a bunch at the top on the semi-circular flap which turns over to cover the opening on the front. The edges and opening are decorated with white fur, possibly ermine or rabbit, and attached to the back is a plaited silk cord, with a loop for suspension on the wall. The pocket is sewn with cotton, and lined with glazed white cotton cloth.
British Museum Online Record.

Motifs and Patterns

Asymmetrical design. Embroidery on both sides.

Dimensions: 28 × 19 × 0 cm
Condition: Good.
Reasons for connecting this relative with particular times, materials, styles and uses

British Museum Online Record.

Current Location: British Museum, London, UK
Catalogue, Accession or Reference Number: 1936 1020.19
Date of Acquisition by the Institution: 1936
Collection Narratives and Histories

Mrs. Frances Kitson

GKS Reference Number: 25832
How to Cite this Item

Unknown Cree/Métis artist, wall pocket. Currently in the British Museum, 1936 1020.19. Item photographed and described as part of a GRASAC research trip December 2007; GRASAC item id 25832.

Record Creation Context

Record created as part of practicum, winter 2009.

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